Display rack



De@ 31, 1940. s, L, DOT 2,227,152v

DISPLAY RACK Filed June 8, 1939 4 1 ,f2 12 /0 if? if Patented Dec. 31,1940 UNITED sTATss `PATENT GFFECE This invention relates to displayracks and more particularly to display racks for store windows and thelike. These racks are providedfor the interchangeable support of`various display cards and signs, or merchandise `mayfbe supportedthereon, or `both merchandise and display signs may be supported on thesame rack by means of interchangeable parts which are adaptable for usein various combinations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display rack inwhich substantial-ly lall of the elements may be interchangeable invarious relationships and may be positioned in various predeterminedarrangements to support and display signs and merchandise incombinations conforming to display requirements.

A further object is the `provision of a display rack of the characterdescribed which will support cards or merchandise of various sizes invarious positions.

A further object is the provision of 'a display rack of the characterdescribed which will` be cheap to manufacture, easily assembled, and inwhich the structure may be of any suitable size and the assembly variedby the user to meet various display requirements.

Further objects will be apparent from the specication and the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a rack assembly illustrating oneembodiment of the invention with the cover member shown in Fig. 2removed.

Fig. 2 `is a transverse section through the base of the embodiment shown-in Fig. 1 and is taken on a line substantially corresponding to line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig'. 3 is an exploded detail view of a portion of the embodiment shownin Fig. 1 and illustrates an auxiliary bracket-like support and themeans for securing it in position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the telescopingtubular posts and bracketmassociated therewith.

Fig. `5 is a perspective View partially broken away illustrating apolygonal post or` supporting member. l A

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of an adjustable post. i

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an support. l

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of a slightly different type of shelf or cardsupporting bracket mounted in one of the posts. i I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the .bracket emangularly 4adjustable post`over the tops of the uprights.

bodilnent shown in Fig. 8 with the post in vertical section.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a shelf supporting bracket and `one ofthe posts on which the bracket may be mounted.

ment illustrated comprises an elongated base I which may be formed ofWood or other suitable material in any desired contour and which isprovided with a plurality of vertical holes 2 preferably longitudinallyaligned in the base, as

shown, and a similar aligned row of angular holes 3. These holes are fortheY purpose of supporting upwardly extending posts or rods ll whichmaybe removably inserted in either the vertical or angular holes,as`shown. Any desired number of the vertical posts 4 may be provided inraccordance with the display requirements.

It will be `understood that the holes or sockets may be grouped-ordistributed in any desired manner, preferably in alignment with thecontour of the base or generally conforming therewith and the base maybe of any suitable shape.

The posts 4 are provided with one or more longitudinal slots 5 adaptedto receive various display devices, such as a card or advertising sign6,which, in the present embodiment, is illustrated supported in the twocentral elongated posts 4 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the

edges of the card being engaged in the slots 5, as shown, and restingupon short removable uprights or pegs 1, a plurality of which may beprovided of diierent lengths so that the card may-be supported in anydesired position or the l` clips shown in Figs. 9 and 10 may be used forthis purpose and will be described later. Any suitable number of theuprights or posts 4 may be positioned in either the vertical `holes 2 orthe angular holes 3 if desired and the articles or signs displayed maybe disposed accordingly.

Sheet metal clips 8, preferably U-shaped cross section, may be placedover the upper or lower edges of the cards, and are arranged to clip acover glass and card together so that both may be inserted in the slotsat the same time and held Vin Xed relation.

The upper ends of the posts 4 are provided with an opening as shown at 9(Fig. 3) and suitable ornamental studs or plugs lil pass through spacedholes Il in a bar I2, which latter extends The studs lil are removablyinserted in the tops of the posts and the `bar l2 is thereby secured ltoall of the up,-

rights `to assist in providing rigidity to the entire structure. 'Ihebar I2 may be made of sheet metal and comprises two telescoping orotherwise relatively adjustable members I2a and I 2b.

A bracket I3 is provided and may comprise an elongated sheet metalmember I4 having a slot I5 therein for supporting a card I6 or anysuitable display as shown in Fig. 1. The member I3 is secured to anupwardly extending rod I'I having its upper end formed at I8 to providea loop extending over the top of any one of lthe posts 4, as shown inFig. 3. The loop is retained in position by means of the ornamental studI0, which latter extends through the loop into the opening 9l It will beunderstood that these brackets I3 are interchangeable and may bepositioned on any of the uprights 4 and may be made in various sizes sothat they may be positionecl at any point desired on the uprights, orthe ends I8 maybe bent downwardly and-hooked over the top of one of thetubular posts shown or the brackets may be constructed to hook into theperforations in tubular posts in the manner shown in Fig. fi.

The uprights 4 may be rotated in the sockets in the base so that theslots may be positioned to support the brackets in any angular positiondesired. Also the slots may be positioned to support cards between anyof the uprights and these uprights may be positioned as desired alongthe base so that cards of any desired size may be supported between anytwo of the uprights and cards may also be supported in the brackets I3.

1 The brackets I3 may be made to support any suitable type ofmerchandise, if desired, for instance, in Fig. 1, the bracket isprovided with a shelf I9 adapted to support a shoe 20.

The base I may be provided with a cover 2I as shown in Fig. 2, and thiscover may have openings 22 therein, corresponding to the sockets in thebase and through which either vertical or angular posts may extend.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a slightly different type of post orupright. In this embodiment a tubular telescoping post 23 is providedwhich may be formed of metal sections in any suitable manner withaligned longitudinal slots 24 therein. Diametrically opposite the slotis provided a vertical row of small perforations 25. Other rows 25a ofperforations may be provided, if desired. The slots 24 may function tohold display cards in the same manner as the slots 5 previouslydescribed, and the perforations enable the use of suitable brackets suchas the bracket 26, which m-ay be triangularly formed of wire, the upperend having an upturned portion 2'I adapted to enter one of theperforations and the lower end being provided with a clip 28corresponding in contour to the post with the lower end 29 of the wirebracket extending through the clip 26 so that it may enter one of theperforations in the post 23 and provide further support for the bracket.These brackets may be mounted on any of the posts and verticallypositioned thereon as desired.

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of tubular post. In thisembodiment the post 30 is made triangular or polygonal and provided witha longitudinalslot 3I on one side and rows of perforations 32. Thebottom of the post is preferably round as at 33 in order to t the holesor sockets 2 Vand 3 in the base in the same manner as the uprightspreviously described. In the polygonal embodiment shown in Fig. 5, theslot 3| may function in the same manner as the slots previouslydescribed and the perforations may support brackets similar to that shown in Fig. 4 in the same manner as the bracket therein is supported, thebrackets of course being provided with a suitable clip conforming to theshape of the triangular post.

Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the post in which the post isprovided with a ball and socket jloint 34 between a base 35 and lthemain or body portion l36 of the post. This post may also be of sheetmetal in tubular form. Bythe use of the universal joint, the angularholes 3 may be dispensed with and any of the posts may be tilted intoany angular position desired or may be rotated to bring the slotstherein to the desired position. It will be understood, of course, thatthis universal joint may be provided in connectionwith any of the postspreviously described. When any of the tubular posts are used, they maybe mounted on pegs similar to the pegs 'I or may beinserted in holes ifdesired.

Fig.'7 illustrates a post support similar to that shown in Fig. 6,except that an ordinary hinge joint is provided. This embodimentcomprises a peg which may be tubular and having a short cylindricaltting 38 pivoted thereto by means of a screw or pintle 39. The peg 3'!may be inserted in one of the sockets or maybe slipped over one of thepegs 1. In either case it may be rotated to support the post at anydesired angle. The posts are telescoped over the tting 38 and supportedthereby.

Fig. 10 illustrates a bracket for use with any of l the posts havingperforations therein. This coinprises a transverse shelf supportingmember 49 which may be of any suitable dimensions and provided with anarcuate portion 4I having a wire l'rook 42 mounted therein, as shown. Itwill be obvious that, by tilting the member 4D, the hookmay be insertedin any of the perfcrations in the post and the arcuate portion 4I willrest against the post and support the member 40 in horizontal position.Two of these brackets 4I! may be placed lon oppositely disposed postsand a shelf supported thereon.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a slightly different type of bracket for use intubular posts such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This comprises a sheetmetal bracket 43 which may be inserted in the slot 24 and is providedwith an elongated downwardly and rearwardly extendingtongue 44, the endof which is adapted to extend through one of the perforations 25. Thebracket is also provided with laterally extending lugs 45 which, whenvthe bracket is inserted in the tube with the tongue extending throughone of the perforations, engage the opposite side of the post wherebythe bracket is rigidly supported in the slot, as shown. This bracket maybe used, if desired, to support a suitable shelf or it may be of verysmall dimensions and adaptedy to support display cards such as the cardIi shown in Fig. 1 and the short pegs or supports 'I may beY dispensedwith. Y

It will be apparent that the bracket 43 may be used on other types ofposts such, for instance, as that shown in Fig. 5.-

Modications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and it is therefore desired that the 4inventionbe limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims. y v n Having thus describedthis invention, What is claimed and desired to be secured by LettersPatentis: Y

1. A display rack comprising an `elongated base having a plurality ofspaced socketstherein, a series of elongated rods for interchangeablemounting in said sockets, said rods being rotatable in said sockets andhaving longitudinal slots therein adapted to support display devicesbetween adjacent rods, a connector adapted to be positioned adjacent thetop of said rods, individual means to secure said connector to each rodirrespective of the arrangement of said rods in said sockets, bracketsadapted to be interchangeably supported on said rods and rotatablypositionable therewith, each bracket comprising a horizontal elongatedsupport having a slot therein to receive a display card or the likewhereby a car-d cr cards may be supported between a pair of rods orcards may radially be positioned by rotation of said rods, and avertical member secured to one end of said support and adapted to beinterchangeably supported in any of the slots in said rods, the upperend of said member being removably secured adjacent the top of therespective rod.

2. A display rack comprising an elongated base having a series of spacedsockets therein, a plurality of elongated rods for interchangeablemounting and rotary positioning in said sockets, said rods havinglongitudinal slots therein to receive the edges of one or more displaycards positioned between one or more selected pairs of rods, said rodscomprising tubular members having a longitudinal row of perforationstherein, and interchangeable card supporting brackets for said rods,each having hook means associated therewith, said hook means beingadapted to be inserted in any of said perforations horizontally tosupport said bracket.

3. In a display rack of the character described, the combination withtubular posts having a longitudinal slot and a diametrically opposedlongitudinal row of perforations, of a bracket adapted to be inserted insaid slot and having means bear- 'ing against the inner surface of saidpost adjacent ysaid slot, and elongated means on said bracket andextending through one of said perforations below the plane of saidbracket.

4. A display rack comprising an elongated base having a plurality ofspaced sockets therein, a series of rods for interchangeable mounting insaid sockets, sai-d rods being rotatable in said sockets and havinglongitudinal slots adapted to removably support display devices betweenany adjacent pairs of rods, a connector comprising telescoping membersadapted to be positioned adjacent the top of said rods and having aplurality of holes therethrough whereby the connector may telescopicallybe adjusted in length in accordance with the number of rods used so thatthe holes correspond in position to complementary openings in the topsof said rods, and removable pegs adapted to be inserted through theopenings in said connector and'into the holes in said rods.

5. A display rack comprising an elongated base having a series of spacedsockets therein, a plurality `of elongated rods for interchangeablemounting and rotary positioning in said sockets, said rods havinglongitudinal slots therein to receivethe edges of one or more displaycards positioned between one or more selected pairs of rods, and displaysupporting pegs interchangeably insertable in any socket or socketsbetween any pair of rods spaced suiciently to provide one or moresockets therebetween.

6. A display rack comprising an elongated base having a series of spacedsockets therein, a plurality of elongated rods for interchangeablemounting and rotary positioning in said sockets, said rods havinglongitudinal slots therein to receive the edges of one or more displaycards positioned between one or more selected pairs of rods, and acollapsible connector adjustable in length to the number ofinterchangeable rods used in a selected arrangement, and means forsecuring said connector to the top of each rod.

7. A display rack comprising an elongated base having a row of spacedvertical sockets therein and an angular socket closely associated witheach vertical socket in transverse alignment, a plurality of elongatedslotted rods for interchangeable mounting and rotary positioning in anyof said sockets, brackets for interchangeable support on any of saidrods and rotatably positionable therewith, each bracket having means toengage the bottom of a card for support thereof between a pair ofadjacent rods with the vertical edges of said card engaged in the slotsin said pair of rods or to support said card in any radial position byrotary adjustment of the bracket supporting rod.

SAMUEL L. PIDOT.

